Sleeve for insulated switch rods



T. OBRIEN SLEEVE FO R INSULATED SWITCH RODS Mdy 29. 1928.

Filed Sept. 19, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5 i L INJVENTOR:

THOMIS01BIPIIEN,

H II

T. OBRIEN SLEEVE FOR INSULATED SWITCH RODS Filed Sept. 19, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet I NVENTOR I 71904115035154 Patented May 29, 1928.

was PATENT 0 anemia QBBAIEE of rininanntrnin,zigiinnsvnyanih.

sLE vE iron insnnaicnn swn on eons.

Application filed schism)" 19,1927; semi- Jim-220 397;

My invention relates to a new and useful sleeve for switch rods, lock rods, pull reds, and the like, and more partiou lal 'ly to a sleevenonstruction hor switch rods the points or "tongues of a singleormultiple switchinay' befilhrown or actuated to epen orclose oneormoremain tracks. invention further relates stou sleeve construction ior rods of the character stated, whereby the rails of the track ortmks oontrolled are maintained in perfect electrically insulated relation *to each other notwithstanding the actuation of all of saidra ils by a single common i i .My invention still further to a novel sleeve construction which i in addition to insulwting the' nod actuating the tracks, also afforded-he requisite stability and ease of motion for the rodand 'itsadjnncts toinsure efiiciency and acouraoyof operation. a

To the aboveends', my invention consists :of an outer metallic sleeve for =a switoh rod and thedike, insulatingimeans intermediate. 1

said sleeve and said rod, andan inner proj -rneans andsaidr'od. i a

: My invention further consists of novel means it for securing the sleeve eneasing the main rails ofa track onto the tongues or points of aswitoh on'a trackyin such a manneras to guard againstshpping or Jamm ng sary stability tothe switch rod or other construction to prevent the twisting or turning of the sleeve duringapplicatid. 1

My inventionfurther consists :of novel means for actuating a switch; or other rod equipped with the sleeve eonstvuction of any "lIlVGIIlIiOIl, comprising a basket rigid'ly=lsecuredtothe rod and having an actuatingrod or lever extending to theswitoh niachineor other point of actuation whereby the *rod is; moved transverselyof the main rails {of a track to open and close asw-itch or'thelilze "My invention *further consists of various" other novel features of construction heneinafter described and claimed;

For thepurpose of il'lu'stratinginyinwen tion I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof whic'h is at sentpreferred by me, since thesame has een' Moi liable *results, although it is to be understood that thevarious instrumentalities of which my inventionconsists can' be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is "not limited to the precise arrangement and organization ofthe instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Intheaocempanying drawings: a

rl,repnesent-s atop plan view of a doub eeross over switchrod shown applied to railroad tracks and equipped withthe navel sleeve construction embodying my "in- Wention. F g. 2, represents a similar plan view o'fa singlecross over switch rod a plied to railroad tracks, and'equipped with the sleeve "construction embodying my invention. .v

I Fig. lprepi-esents a sectional "view on line elevation. v a ig; 4%- 1 'epresents a sectional viewon ll'me Fig. 5, represents a" perspective wiew of theno-vel sleeve embodyingmy invention. tecting s'leev'e interniedlate said insulating 1 lFig.-"6' represents a *per c'tive view of the evi 9011p employed se ing the Referring toft-he drawings, in which simi- }lar numerals of reference indicate corresponding iparts, 1 designates {a continuous,

integral switch rod provided-at spaced in- Ptervuls alon "the length thereof with =the screw thread ed portions 2, which are 1 adafiwtu)- receive andieng'age the interna 1y threaded flocking nuts 3; 1 designates a netallic sleeve or casing through which the rod 1 extends and which "is provided "with the annular-rim or flangefi atone'end thereof and with the square or rectangularpo'rt ion 6 atftheother end thereof, the latter end "beinghlso provided with'the squaredshoulderf'l, "as wlllbe understoodfromFigh. 8 designates an inner g insulating sleeve made of suitable material such as fiber oi' the like, which forms a lining for the metallic sleeve 4 and electricall insulates the red 1 to prevent #the occurrence of short circuits and-the resulting interiierence with the l' ht signals along the track; airgof insu utingfivasherst) ahutagainst e fiangejfi and i found in practiceto give s'atisfactorycand reshoulder. 7 alt the] respective ends 20f the he sleeve" en switch mild to? the Ill) lie

sleeve 4 and are held in place by the outer metallic washers 10 and the lock nuts 3 to complete the insulation of the rod 1, as will be understood from F ig. 3. Intermediate the shoulder 7 and the insulating washer 9 and outer metallic washer 10 are interposed the clip 11 and hanger washer 12 which are secured to the switch tongue 13 by the plates 14 and bolts 15. The clipll is provided with-the enlarged rectangular opening 16 through which projects and in which is adjustably supported the squared end portion 6 of the sleeve 4, as will be understood from Fig. 4. Similarly, the hanger, washer 12 is provided with the squared opening. 17 through which, also, the square end portion 6 of the sleeve is adapted to project, as will be understood from Fig. 3. Unlike the hanger washer 12, the clip 11 is further provided with the lower opening 18 through which the rod 1 may be dropped after the nuts 3 have been loosened and the sleeve 4 has been withdrawn until thesquared end 6 thereof has cleared the clip 11, thus permitting the adjustment or repair of any section of the rod or the disconnection of the same from any switch tongue or point without removing the bolts 15 or disconnecting the clip and its adjuncts, it being understood that the hanger washer 12 is detached iron: the clip 11 by the loosening of the nuts 3. A basket 19,.rigidly connected to the switch rod 1 at any suitable point along the length thereof, is provided with the lever or rod 20 extending to the switch machine (not shown) whereby the switch may be thrown to close or open ,a track, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 2. I

22 designates an inner metallic sleeve interposed between the rod 1 and the insulating sleeve 8 to prevent the rapid wearing out of the latter, which would otherwise result from constant contact with the screw threads on the rods. The metallic sleeve 22 further serves to reduce the friction .between the rod 1 and the insulating sleeve 8, which is usually made of fiber or the like, particularly when said insulating sleeve: 8

,is wet.

My present invention is an improvement over my prior Patent No. 986,307, dated March 7, 1911, an important feature of the present invention being the rovision of the squared, opening in the c 11 and the hanger washer 12 which receive and e e the correspondingly squared end 6 and shou der 7 on the end of sleeve 4, to prevent the turning or twisting of the sleeve while the switch is opened or closed, and at the same time to permit of a certain amount of glay or lateral adjustment to guard against t e jamming of parts.

' While I have described my novel sleeve attachment in connection with a switch rod,

vhaving a lower in is equally applicable to lock rods, pull rods, and the like, and that my invention is not limited to the switch rod construction herein shown anddescribed.

It willnow be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to givesaflsfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood thattho same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or see of the invention .or sacrificing, any of i advantages. i

c Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: i

1. 'A sleeve for switch rods hav' one end polygonal and provid dwith a po ygonal shoulder and means for securing said sleeve to a switch to 1 comprising a clip ac i g against said polygonal shoulder and having a polygonal opening thereinv for receiving said polygonal end, and; ohm

and having a polygonal opening therein tor receiving saidpol genal end.

. 2. A cylindri having one end squared and P ovided a squared shoulder, means ,for securing said sleeve to a switch mafia; comprising a clip having a lower mom abutting against said squared shoulder and having a rectangular opening therein for receiving said squared end, and a hanger washer havinga lower. member abutting said clip and having a squared opening therein for receiving said squared end, there beingan opening inthe lowermost edge of said clip communicati with said r opening.

3. n, a device of ithe character stated, a rod having screw .ahreaded sections and adapted to actuate alswitch ton e, ametallic sleeve encasing said rod an having one and dated and provided with a squared shoal er, means for secur' said sleeve to said lrod including .a cli aving a lower member adapted to a at against said squared shoulder and having a rectangular opening therein, a hanger washer abutting said. 0 ip and having a squared opening therein, lock nuts engaging said screw sleeve for switch rods:

I go: washerhaving .a lowerjmember abutting against said chp Ill it is to be understood that this construction ing one end thereof squared and provided 11 with a squared shoulder, means for securing said sleeve to said rod including a clip having a lower member adapted to abut against said squared shoulder and having a rectan} gular opening therein, a hanger washer abutting said clip and having a squared opening therein, lock nuts engaging said screw threaded sections, means for securing the upper end of said clip to a switch tongue,

10 means for electrically insulating said rod ineluding an insulating sleeve and insulating Washers, and an inner metallic sleeve intermediate said rod and said insulating sleeve, there being an opening in the lower end of said clip communicating with said rectangular opening.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed by name.

THOMAS OBRIEN. 

